New state behavioral health laws
"House Bill 1193" “Behavioral Health Supports For High-risk Families” provides access to intensive substance use treatment to women up to one year after giving birth, and creates pilot child care programs for women in treatment." "Sponsors: Reps. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo" "Signed: May 23" Read full article #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #addiction #opioids
FOR COPO PRINT!!! Colorado opioid fight stretches from Denver to D.C.
"Senate Bill 227, a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at getting drug-overdose medication into schools, expanding the state’s drug take-back program and getting automated external defibrillator devices into more buildings. The bill was sponsored by Pettersen; Kennedy; Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver; and Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver." Read full article #LeslieHerod #GovernorPolis #opioidcrisis #addiction #Caring4Denver #criminaljusticereform
Capitol review: Lawmakers chipped away at opioid epidemic with 6 bills
"State lawmakers made strides toward curbing the opioid epidemic in Colorado, which claims at least one victim every day. In the just-ended session, they passed policies to expand treatment in rural Colorado, to stock an overdose-reversal medication in public places, and to require some jails and prisons to offer withdrawal medication to certain inmates." "Those efforts come as opioid-related deaths held steady in 2018, with heroin and fentanyl overdoses inching up, according
New legislation aims to tackle opioid crisis in Colorado
"Senate Bill 227" “Harm Reduction Substance Use Disorders” would explicitly authorize schools to carry naloxone, a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses. It would also allow hospitals to serve as syringe exchange sites, expand the household medication take-back program, and create mobile response teams to provide medication-assisted substance use treatment in jails." "The bill was sponsored by Pettersen and Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. In the House, it was sponsored by Ken
Colorado could reduce penalties for drug possession crimes
“Our state cannot afford to continue doling out felony convictions and sending people to prison for drug possession,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, one of four sponsors of the bill, in a statement. “It has not made our community safer, but it has created a whole host of problems for many people and families in our community. Permanently branding drug users as criminals makes it harder for them to access the things they need to get back on their feet, like stable housing and employm
Bill would make possessing drugs in Colorado a misdemeanor instead of a felony
"On Tuesday, lawmakers heard testimony on House Bill 1263, which would make it a misdemeanor and no longer a felony to possess illegal drugs." "The bill does not address distribution of drugs, which means it will still be a felony to sell illegal products." “They could still get up to 120 days -- 180 days in some instances -- so they could still go to jail, hard time. The question is: Do we put them in DOC where there are no resources for them, or do we allow them the opportu
Bill to eliminate felonies for drug possession in Committee today
"DENVER – A House Judiciary meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss a bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Leslie Herod and Republican Rep. Shane Sandridge who believes by reclassifying simple drug possession as a misdemeanor, that it would ultimately result in fewer felony records, reduced jail sentences, and million in savings to the state." “Most Coloradans agree we should focus more on treatment and prevention instead of punishment and incarceration, and that i
Recovering Addict Says Felony Drug Charge Bill Would Help, Not Hurt
"We have a leg up where it concerns understanding what our folks have been through and what they’re probably going to face in their challenges after incarceration,” Latif said. “We have about 1,300 client visits a month. We have a recidivism rate over the last four years of under 10 percent.” "It’s because of his experiences he’s supporting House Bill 1263. Rep. Leslie Herod is leading the effort to change some small drug possession charges into misdemeanors. Advocates say it
Lawmakers Consider Bill To Lower Penalties For Drug Possession
"DENVER (CBS4) — Lawmakers will consider a bill Tuesday that would lower the penalty for possession of illegal drugs for personal use. Under existing law, possession of a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II is a felony. If HB19-1263 passes, it would reduce simple drug possession crimes in Colorado to a misdemeanor and remove the felony charge for possessing more than 12 ounces of marijuana." "Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD, marijuana, peyote, methaqualone, a
How Drug-Possession Felonies Are Overwhelming Colorado Prisons
"These institutions were never designed to be treatment centers, and they can't be relied upon to do that," notes Donner." "That's why the CCJRC is supporting House Bill 19-1263, which was introduced on March 22 and will be heard in the house Judiciary Committee on April 2; it's sponsored by representatives Leslie Herod and Shane Sandridge, as well as senators Vicki Marble and Pete Lee. If approved, the measure would reduce felony simple drug possession crimes in the state to
